- Fiber
- Lower total cholesterol and LDL in the blood.
- Improve blood glucose levels
- Decrease the need for exogenous insulin.
- Increase satiety, which is helpful for weight loss
- Alcohol
- High in calories (lead to weigh gain)
- Promotes hypertriglyceridemia
- Can cause severe hypoglycemia
Alcohol is absorbed before other nutrients and does not require insulin for
absorption. Large amounts can be converted to fats, increasing the risk for DKA.
A major danger of alcohol consumption by the patient with diabetes is
hypoglycemia, especially for patients who take insulin. Alcohol may decrease the
normal physiologic reactions in the body that produce glucose (gluconeogenesis). Alcohol consumption may lead to excessive weight gain (from the high caloric
content of alcohol), hyperlipidemia, and elevated glucose levels (especially with
mixed drinks and liqueurs).
- Diet teaching
- Dietitian initially provides instruction
- Should include the patient‘s family and significant others
- Read food labels
- Sweetners